<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere are two ways of measuring a bar when purchasing a replacement chainsaw bar if you don’t have your user manual or box that the chainsaw shipped in to hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first, and least common<\/em>, is to measure a chainsaw bar from tail to tip. This is known as the full bar measurement or the true bar length. This tells you the entire length of the guide bar, but this information isn’t always useful or easy to get. Why? Because the entire length of the bar is much larger than it first seems, as the bar actually sits further back than the mounting slot you see as you’re using the chainsaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInstead, the bar goes further back and to take the full length measurement of the chainsaw bar, you’ll need to remove the bar from the body. We’ll talk more about how to do that below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second, and most common<\/em> way to measure a chainsaw bar, is to focus on the effective cutting length. This only takes the measurement of the chainsaw bar from the tip of the chainsaw blade to the chainsaw body. The cutting length only focuses on the useful part of the bar that actually works with the chainsaw chain. When looking for a replacement chainsaw bar, you’ll typically need the effective cutting length size, rather than the full or true length above (but preferably them both together for a more accurate result).<\/p>\n\n\n\nEither way, we’ll talk you through both methods below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How To Measure A Chainsaw Bar<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nRemember, today’s post is focussing on measuring the chainsaw bar, and the two methods we’ll discuss below are for the chain bar only. If you want to know how to measure chainsaw chains, this won’t be covered in today’s post, but we will be covering chainsaw chain size in a later post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now, let’s focus on chainsaw bars!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Safety First<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nPick out a flat surface to work on – ensure the flat surface is uncluttered and clean before you start<\/li> Turn off the chainsaw – before you go anywhere near the chainsaw you’ll need to make sure there’s no chance of it switching on as you work, you can even remove the spark plug wire to be extra safe if you please<\/li> Wear protective gloves to protect yourself from the chain’s teeth<\/li> Take out your tape measure and have screwdrivers on hand for when you need to find out the true length measurement rather than the cutting length<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
<\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>An Obvious, Simple Trick<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe’ll let you in on a little secret. If you have the model number, owner’s manual, or box, then finding replacement parts for your chainsaw is much easier. It’ll give you the information you need right away, without having to use a tape measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Information regarding your bar size, chain size, chain pitch, chain gauge, and everything in between can all be found in your owner’s manual, meaning you don’t need to waste time counting the number of drive links (for your chain), measuring the distance between three rivets (for the chain pitch), or measuring your chain bar (for your bar size) to find the info you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you have your manual to hand, go and check it out. It’ll give you the effective length of your chainsaw bar right away depending on your size chainsaw and model. Every bar will vary depending on the chainsaw you use, so having information about your specific model is always helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re reading this tip too late and you still need to measure a chainsaw bar to find out the size, don’t worry. It’s still doable. Just remember to keep hold of your owner’s manual next time you buy electric chainsaws, so you don’t have to go through this again…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Chainsaw Bar Length: Cutting Length Measurement<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nLet’s start with the most common way to measure a chainsaw bar: the cutting length or called length. Thankfully, this is also the easiest method and the info you’ll need when looking for a new chain bar in your local hardware store, so this should always be where you start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All you need to do here is take your measuring tape and measure the chainsaw bar from the tip of the chainsaw to the chainsaw body. This will give you the cutting length\/called length and tell you the accurate measurement of the chainsaw bar in terms of what’s actually being used to help the chain cut through wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you have the number from your tape measure, you’ll need to round up the number to the closest inch. Chainsaw bars are sold in set lengths to fit each different chainsaw size, but it’s best to have a chainsaw bar that’s a few inches longer than it needs to be, than one that’s too small. The actual length (the number on your tape measure) doesn’t matter so much, it’s used more as a guide. So long as the chain fits within the slightly longer chainsaw bar, you’ll be able to make it work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember, always round up – never round down when it comes to the length of the chainsaw bar!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Chainsaw Bar Length: Full Length Measurement<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTo take the full measurement or true length of the chainsaw bar, you’ll need to remove the chainsaw bar and chain from the chainsaw body to accurately measure the true length of the bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Step One: Remove Chainsaw Housing<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\nTo start with, you’ll need to remove the bar from the chainsaw housing or body. You can do this by locating the two screws at the base of the blade, and loosening them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Step Two: Pull Chain From Bar<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\nInside the bar will be a tension wheel. Turn the screw here to loosen it so that the chain can be removed from the bar groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Step Three: Remove Chain<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\nOnce loose from every bar groove, the bar and chain can both be removed separate from one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n